How We Define Naturally Derived Ingredients

In the absence of a government-regulated definition for natural cosmetics, Mary Kay defines Mary Kay Naturally™ products as at least 90% of ingredients are derived from natural sources processed in allowance with third-party standards — currently the COSMOS standard. Natural sources include water, plants, minerals, ingredients of mineral origin and other agricultural ingredients. Any remaining ingredients are included to help blend the formula together and maintain effectiveness. You can find the exact percentage of naturally derived ingredients of each product printed on the front of the package. In addition, Mary Kay Naturally™ products are free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes and SLS/SLES. Some products may also be formulated without other select ingredients. To learn more about the COSMOS standard, see https://cosmos-standard.org/the-cosmos-standard.

Certified for ConfidenceWe want you to feel confident in our skin-loving ingredients, so every Mary Kay Naturally™ product is third-party certified as natural according to comprehensive standards. For our core lineup, we chose COSMOS Natural certified by ECOCERT, which evaluates everything from the sourcing and processing of ingredients to product manufacturing and packaging. To learn more about the COSMOS standard, see https://cosmos-standard.org/the-cosmos-standard.

Versatile Forms
From hydration to exfoliation, each Mary Kay Naturally™ product leaves skin looking healthy with gentle formulas suitable for sensitive skin. Use all the Mary Kay Naturally™ products as your skin care regimen, or experience versatile products such as the nourishing oil or the moisturizing stick with your current routine.

How to Get Naturally Gorgeous Skin
Watch these videos to build your own Mary Kay Naturally™ Skin Care routine.

Cornflower Floral Water (Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water)
Cornflower floral water (centaurea cyanus flower water) has a rich history of use for calming, soothing and skin conditioning. Native to Europe, cornflowers contain flavonoid antioxidants, which help fight free radicals.

GlycerinSkin-replenishing glycerin is a well-known humectant that attracts and retains water to help boost moisture levels. It is naturally occurring in skin. It not only helps condition skin but also helps give it a soft, smooth feel. Derived from coconut and rapeseed.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect against free radicals and environmental damage. While abundant and naturally occurring in skin, it can be readily depleted over time due to exposure to environmental stressors. It is widely used in a variety of skin care and cosmetic products. Sourced from soybean and added to a sunflower oil base.

The emollient oil (sesamum indicum seed oil) produced from the seeds of the tropical sesame plant is a popular choice for body, bath, hair, skin care and cosmetic products. As a skin conditioner, it helps provide nourishing moisturization benefits. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, which all combine to provide antioxidant protection and help support skin’s natural lipid barrier.

Squalane

Squalane (-lane) is a hydrogenated form of squalene (-lene), which makes it stable in formula. Squalene and squalane are natural emollients derived from plants, and our products contain squalane. It is an excellent moisturizer to help support the skin barrier and reduce dryness. Renowned for its lightweight, silky texture, it’s absorbed easily by skin. In fact, skin’s own natural oil is partially comprised of squalane, making it a perfect complement for your skin to embrace the benefits. It helps minimize moisture loss and gives a soft, supple feel to skin.

Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)

A natural emollient, sweet almond oil (prunus amygdalus dulcis oil) is derived from almond seeds. It’s known for its skin softening, smoothing and soothing benefits. Rich in unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids, it can help moisturize skin and relieve dryness.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect against free radicals and environmental damage. While abundant and naturally occurring in skin, it can be readily depleted over time due to exposure to environmental stressors. It is widely used in a variety of skin care and cosmetic products. Sourced from soybean and added to a sunflower oil base.

Beeswax
A popular ingredient in skin care and cosmetic products, beeswax is an excellent protectant of the skin barrier. It helps lock in moisture and leaves skin feeling soft.

Candelilla Wax
Moisturization is an important component of basic daily skin care. Candelilla wax has protective properties that allow it to help prevent moisture loss from skin.

In the absence of a government-regulated definition for natural cosmetics, Mary Kay defines Mary Kay Naturally™ products as at least 90% of ingredients are derived from natural sources processed in allowance with third-party standards — currently the COSMOS standard. Natural sources include water, plants, minerals, ingredients of mineral origin and other agricultural ingredients. Any remaining ingredients are included to help blend the formula together and maintain effectiveness. You can find the exact percentage of naturally derived ingredients of each product printed on the front of the package. In addition, Mary Kay Naturally™ products are free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes and SLS/SLES. Some products may also be formulated without other select ingredients. To learn more about the COSMOS standard, see https://cosmos-standard.org/the-cosmos-standard.

As important as the ingredients you want to see, we know there are some ingredients you don’t want to see. So Mary Kay Naturally™ products are free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes and SLS/SLES. The purifying cleanser, exfoliating powder, nourishing oil and moisturizing stick are also free of silicone, mineral oil, alcohol and any ingredients that have been genetically modified.

One of the goals of certification is to reinforce consumer confidence through a recognized third-party organization. So every Mary Kay Naturally™ product is third-party certified as natural according to comprehensive standards. For our core lineup, we chose COSMOS Natural certified by EcoCert. The criteria also support respect for the environment and transparency for consumers. Everything from the sourcing and processing of the ingredients to the manufacturing of the product and the packaging is evaluated. To learn more about the COSMOS standard, see https://cosmos-standard.org/the-cosmos-standard.

All packaging complies with comprehensive standards to ensure respect for the environment. Plus, our cartons are made from 100% post-consumer content, are recyclable* and feature Forest Stewardship Council†-certified material. https://us.fsc.org/en-us

*Where facilities exist
†The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is dedicated to supporting the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. FSC-certified paper and print products contribute to conservation, responsible management and community-level benefits for people near the forests that provide the paper.

Let’s face it, trying to figure out what natural skin care is can get overwhelming: Is it safer than chemical or synthetic? Is it different from organic? Are the benefits as good? It’s hard enough with so many facial skin care products to choose from -- different forms of cleansers, types of moisturizers, etc. You may even have to know your skin type -- oily, combination or dry -- or know if you have sensitive skin. And then you have to decide if you should choose natural or something else when you’re not even sure what it means? Exhausting!

Well, no need to stress! Here are five things to know to help you weed out the clutter of information — and often misinformation — that you can find online.

1. There is no government-regulated definition for natural skin care. So companies can pretty much create their own definition or leave it vague for you to figure out what they mean. (Seriously?) Don't waste time wondering. Our definition for Mary Kay Naturally™ is that at least 90% of ingredients are derived from natural sources processed in allowance with third-party standards — currently the COSMOS standard. Natural sources include water, plants, minerals, ingredients of mineral origin and other agricultural ingredients.
2. Both natural and “chemical” facial skin care can be safe. This can really trip people up. In reality, everything is a chemical -- even water (hint: H2O). Many people use the term “chemical” as a synonym for “toxic” or the opposite of natural, but that’s not accurate. Nothing is chemical-free. Instead, if it isn’t natural, then it’s synthetic -- but that doesn't make it toxic or harmful. Just like being natural doesn’t automatically make it good for you. Poison ivy is plant-based and natural, but you wouldn’t apply it as part of your facial cleansing routine. Peanuts are natural, and plenty of people have peanut allergies. There are many examples of something that’s natural causing adverse effects. What’s important is knowing that ingredients are rigorously tested and backed by credible scientific data.

3. Organic is not the same as natural. Although they do have things in common, for instance, neither has a government-regulated definition for cosmetic products. So again, a clear explanation of what a company means by organic is important. In general, there are stricter rules on how an ingredient is grown and processed to be considered organic. Yet, it also doesn’t automatically mean it’s safer than anything else.

4. Saying “free of” (e.g., free of parabens) has created wrong assumptions. This is a big one! Paraben-free, alcohol-free, free of this and that have gained a mass following. But many of these ingredients are getting a bad rap. Sometimes it’s based on a specific type of the ingredient or even outright inaccurate information. It’s like saying carbs are bad for you. Some may be better to limit, but not all carbs deserve to be banished from your diet. So do your research using independent scientific data, not hearsay. At Mary Kay, if we can't verify an ingredient’s safety, we won't use it. It’s that simple.

5. Natural products can be high-quality and deliver great benefits. Some think there must be trade-offs to choosing natural products. They think either natural can’t work as well, last as long or feel as good compared to other products. But these aren’t the days of going to the farmers market for fruits and veggies to mix up your own cleanser or moisturizer because there are no natural options. Availability of ingredients, research on their benefits and experts on formulating with these ingredients have only grown and improved. So whether cleansing, moisturizing or pampering your skin with nourishing benefits, you can expect high-quality, natural products to deliver great results.

So now that you know a little more about natural skin care, let’s talk about specific things you might look for when choosing products.

Certification. While a company should define what natural or naturally derived means to them, some go an extra step and get certified as natural. There are many certifying bodies, and typically they have their own set of standards. So what they require to be certified “natural” can vary. But certification still gives a level of confidence that an independent organization has established guidelines and evaluated the product and processes to meet those standards. For our initial product offering of Mary Kay Naturally™ Skin Care, Mary Kay chose COSMOS Natural certified by EcoCert. To learn more about the COSMOS standard, see https://cosmos-standard.org/the-cosmos-standard.

Ingredients. Nature offers lots of ingredients, but which to choose? First, it will vary depending on the product and benefit you want. You don’t necessarily need the same fruit or plant across all your products. It’s more important that what’s in the product supports the benefits.

After all, what you want in a cleanser for cleansing skin is different than what you want in a moisturizer for hydrating skin. Or an oil that may also be hydrating can have very different ingredients due to its oil format versus a cream or a lotion. So that could mean an endless combination of possibilities, which makes it all the more fun!

Social and environmental commitment. Natural often also means wanting to buy from a company that cares. Of course, more people than ever expect this from any company selling any product. So it's good to consider this. Through our Pink Changing LivesSM Program, we empower women, transform lives, care for the planet and inspire others. And what could be better than getting great, natural products from a company that also reflects your values?

Just remember, whatever you choose as your facial cleanser, moisturizer or other skin care product, it’s about reflecting the beauty of you! And only you get to own that. Enjoy!

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